INCIDENCE OF HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE IN A DAY-CARE-CENTER

In this study nasopharyngeal haemophilus influenzae flora of healthy c hildren in a day-care center in Istanbul were analyzed, Nasopharyngeal cultures of 168 children between two and five years of age were obtai ned between December 1, 1992 and April 1, 1993 and investigated. H. in fluenzae was isolated in 104 cultures. H. influenzae type b (Hib), typ e f and H. parainfluenzae were found 87 children (51.8%), 15 children (8.9%) and one child (0.6%), respectively, while non-typable H. influe nzae was discovered in one child (0.6%). Hib, which is the cause of in vasive H. influenzae infection in childhood, was evaluated with respec t to age; its incidence was found to be highest in two and three-year- old children, and reduced in children older than four years of age. Al though nib was seen in 518 percent of normal children in the day-care center, invasive Hib disease was not seen in any of those children. Th erefore, these children have considered carrier of Hib without clinica l manifestations.